Rotary combustion machine



United States Patent Arthur R. Braun 508 N. Cary Algonquin Road, Cary, Illinois [72] inventor [54] ROTARY COMBUSTION MACHINE 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl.... 123/18 [51] 1nt.Cl'. F02b 53/00 [50] FieltlolSearch 123/18, 18A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,427,692 8/1922 Mahon 123/18 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,051 10/1927 France Primary ExaminerWendell E. Burns AzmrneyStefan M. Stein ABSTRACT: A rotary combustion machine having a housing comprising a ported cylindrical outer wall, a ported concentric inner wall forming an exhaust chamber and a partition extending between the walls; and featuring an annular piston slidably received on the partition while eccentrically oscillating between and about the walls of the housing. As'the piston oscillates, an air/fuel mixture is received and compressed in chambers formed about the exterior surface of the piston and ignited, and exhausted in chambers formed about the interior surface of the piston. When the mixture is ignited, expanding gases oscillate the piston which in turn rotates a drive shaft.

Patented Sept. 22, 1970 Sheet 1 of2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1970 Y 3,529,581 1 17/60! I. firm/n v INVENTOR.

ROTARY COMBUSTION MACHINE This invention relates to a combustion machine, more particularly, to rotary combustion machines and their operation.

Rotary combustion machines utilizing an eccentrically mounted rotor are known. As the rotor revolves in an engine housing, its eccentric motion causes the rotor to move toward and away from the housings wall. When the rotor moves away from this wall adjacent a fuel/air mixture intake port, a partial evacuation of a combustion chamber between the rotor and the housing causes the fuel/air mixture to be induced into the chamber. This chamber is rotatably sealed by seals on salient tips of the rotor or between radial slidable vanes carried by the rotor. Thus, as the rotor continues to rotate, the fuel/air mixture is carried within the chamber. During a subsequent portion of the rotors cycle when it moves toward the housing's wall, the mixture is compressed and ignited, usually with a spark plug. Theresulting expansion of gases drives the rotor. Later in the rotors cycle, the spent gases within the chamber are discharged through an exhaust opening whereupon the chamber is again ready to receive a new charge when it passes adjacent the fuel/air intake port.

Three or more such chambers are normally formed between the rotor and the housing such that simultaneously an air/fuel mixture is induced into a first chamber, compressed and ignited in a second chamber, and exhausted in a third chamber. The rotor is normally internally geared to an output shaft which extends through the housing. Because rotor motion is eccentric, not reciprocal, operational smoothness is superior to a piston engine.

Unfortunately, these known rotary combustion machines have a number of disadvantages. One disadvantageis that they must utilize tip seals or sliding vanes to seal the combustion chambers. The tip seals or sliding vanes, whichever is utilized,

. perform the same function as piston rings in a conventional piston engine. That is, they must function as efficient barriers against combustion pressures while rubbing against the housing wall at very high speed. They must moreover withstand high frictional loads and high temperatures and must function through all these different conditions without the benefit of substantial lubrication. Much of the efficiency of the engine is determined by these seals or vanes. One objection to these seals or vanes is that they quickly wear out, and the efficiency of the machine is then reduced, necessitating their replacement. To replace these seals or vanes necessitates downtime" on the engine as well as an undesirable repair expense. Moreover, the rotor must be especially machined to be fitted with these seals or vanes requiring an additional manufacturing cost. Another disadvantage, in addition to the seals or vanes, is the manner in which the eccentric motion of the rotor is changed to a uniform rotary movement for rotating a drive shaft. This is ordinarily accomplished by coupling the rotor to the drive shaft by a gear mechanism which is undesirable as itcomplicates the machine as well as making it more expensive. Still another disadvantage is that present compo nents of rotary combustion machines make the machines relatively heavy, and the machines are therefore unsuitable where small lightweight machines are to be installed. These components also make it difficult to manufacture the machine in small sizes. Attempts were made to overcome these disadvantages. These attempts, however have not been successful.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel rotary combustion machine.

Another object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which is efficient and smooth in operation.

Still another object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which eliminates the needfor seals or vanes on the rotor.

A further object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which is lightweight.

Another object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which can be easily assembled.

Another object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which can be manufactured in very small sizes.

Still another object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which is practical and economically feasible to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

A rotary combustion machine has now been devised which satisfies these objectives. In essence, the machine comprises a piston with an annular wall which eccentrically oscillates between a ported inner cylindrical wall and a ported concentric outer wall of the machine's housing. An upstanding partition connects these walls and the piston wall has a suitable opening to slidably engage this partition as the piston oscillates. The pistons outer diameter and wall thickness is such that as the piston eccentrically oscillates within the housing, its exterior surface contacts the outer housing wall while its interior surface contacts the inner housing wall. These areas of contact, in combination with the partition, are seals for chambers formed by the piston and its relationship with the housing. For each oscillation or cycle of the piston, a gas/air mixture is induced within an intake chamber as the piston moves along the housing's outer wall. During the next oscillating cycle, this mixture is compressed in a compression chamber and is then transferred by suitable ports to an ignition chamber in the interior of the piston whereupon a spark plug tires the mixture. During the third and fourth cycles of the piston, after the mixture is fired, expanding gases drive the piston. The gases are subsequently transferred by an exhaust chamber to an exhaust port in the inner housing wall where they escape from the machine. The eccentric oscillating action of the piston is changes to rotary movement for rotating a drive shaft by a caming action between the piston and drive shaft.

The invention accordingly'compfises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

, FIG. 1 is a perspective ,outer view of the combustion machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the several parts of the machine;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatical sequential views of the operation of the machine of FIG. 1, illustrating a combustion cycle; and a FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the machine taken along line 11-11 ofFlG. l.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts.

throughout the several views of the drawings.

As best seen from FIG. 2, the combustion machine of this invention, made of metal such as steel or aluminum, comprises four basic components: a machine cover 10, a machine housing 20, a, piston 40, and a drive shaft 50.

The machine cover 10 comprises a disc 12 with a raisedthreaded lip I4 about its perimeter and a shaft hub 16 extend- 4 ing from its opposite side. The shaft hub. 16 is stepped at its root end to form a short axle guide well l fiat the center of I disc 12 (see FIG. 11). An exhaust gas transfer groove 19 is .disposed along the upper surface of disc 12 where shown to define a gas transfer passage as hereinafter described.

A still further object is to provide a rotary combustion machine which has few moving parts. v

Another object is toprovide a rotary combustion machine which is durable.

.- -7 5 .around the hollow ofi-salid: cylinder. Thiscavity' receives the" Machine housing 20, closed at one end, consists of an annular wall 22 with an outer upstanding cylindrical wall 24 centrally disposed therein. Annular wall 22 has a rim 26 which is threaded to engage up v14 of. the cover 10, enabling the machine to be easily assembled. Cover 10'and annular wall22' of the housing, when assembled,define an annular cavity cylinder cavity cover-disc 42 of the piston. The clearances between the disc 42 and housing 20 enable the disc to oscillate without substantial drag on the disc but are machined sufficiently close to seal the hollow between wall 24 and a cylindrical wall 30 of the housing. Wall 30 is within and concentric to housing wall 24 and defines an inner exhaust chamber 31. An exhaust chimney 28 extends into chamber 31, and an exhaust port or slot 32 is contained in wall 30 for transferring exhaust gases to exhaust chamber 31. A partition or separator wall 34, adjacent to slot 32, extends to the outer housing wall 24.

Adjacent to the opposite side of separator wall 34, within housing wall 24, is an intake port 36 which is in communication with an intake conduit 38. Intake conduit 38 receives a fuel/air mixture from a suitable source not shown. As seen in FIG. 1, intake port 36 is formed by intake conduit 38 slightly overlapping outer housing wall 24. A threaded opening is formed in the upper surface of housing 20 to enablean igniter, such as a spark plug 32, to be in communication with a combustion chamber formed between piston wall 45 and inner wall 30 of the housing as hereinafter described.

Piston 40 consists of a cylinder cavity cover-disc 42 with a ring shaped piston shaft drivewall 44 centrally projecting therefrom. The disc 42 is of lesser diameter than piston cover disc 12 or cylindrical annular wall 22. Intermediate the edge of disc 42 and piston drivewall 44 is an annular piston wall 46. The top of piston wall 46 and closed end of the hollow formed between housing walls 24 and 30 are machined with close tolerances such that the piston wall forms an effective rotational seal with the closed end. Piston wall 46 also contains a separator straddling opening 47 which straddles separator wall 34. A pair of compression gas transfer ports 48 and 49 extend through cover disc 42. Transfer port 48 lies outside of piston wall 46 and transfer port 49 lies within piston wall 46. These ports are so arranged to be aligned with transfer groove 19 on disc 12 when piston 40 reaches a particular point in its movement.

Drive shaft 50 comprises a drive rod 54 terminated by a coaxial rod guide disc 56. A piston drive stud 58 extends from disc 56. The drive stud is offset from the axis of disc 56 and shaft 54 and fits within piston drive wall 44 of the piston 40. The drive stud is arranged with respect to drive wall 44 and drive shaft 50 so that drive shaft 50 will be rotated as piston 40 is eccentrically oscillated. It should then be evident, as best seen in FIG. 2, that this oscillatory to rotary motion is effected by a camming action between the drive stud and drive wall 44.

FIGS. 3 to show a sequential operation of the machine. The machine is started by rotating drive shaft 50 clockwise with a suitable starter, not shown. This in turn causes piston wall 46 to eccentrically oscillate with an apparent clockwise, rotary motion. The piston wall 46 has a diameter and a wall thickness and is eccentrically oscillated such that the piston walls outer surface continuously rides on housing wall 24 and its inner surface continuously rides on wall 30 of exhaust chamber 31. The areas of contact of piston wall 46 with housing wall 24 and cylindrical wall 30 in combination with partition or separator wall 34, form effective seals for variable chambers: an intake chamber A, a compression chamber B, a firing or combustion chamber C, and an exhaust chamber D.

Assuming the machine is started from the position shown in FIG. 3, piston wall 46 moves with an apparent rotation which is clockwise around housing wall 24. This results in a partial evacuation of intake chamber A" causing an air/fuel mixture to be induced within the chamber through intakeport It can be seen by following the sequential operation in the figures that intake chamber A reaches its maximum volume upon the piston completing its first cycle or oscillation as shown in FIG. 10. Referring again to FIG. 3 on the second cycle or oscillation of the piston, this mixture is compressed in a compression chamber 8".

It is compressed between piston wall 46 and separator wall 34 as the piston wall moves toward the separator wall. When the piston is in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, gas transfer ports 48 and 49 are aligned with transfer groove 19.

At this time, the air/fuel mixture is forcibly transferred into a combustion chamber C" and igniter 39 tires the mixture in this chamber with the piston in a postion as shown in FIG. 10. Expanding gases then oscillate the piston without the need of a starter. On the third cycle of the piston, as seen in FIG. 8, these gases are contained in an exhaust chamber D" at which time exhaust port 32 is uncovered. Continuing movement of the piston forces the exhaust gases through port 32 and out of the machine through exhaust chimney 28. The gases are completely exhausted when the piston, on its fourth cycle, reaches the position shown in FIG. 7.

As should easily be understood, for each succeeding cycle of the machine, an air/fuel mixture is drawn into the machine, compressed, fired and exhausted. Expanding gases in the combustion chamber continue to drive the piston which, through the camming arrangement of stud 58 and bearing wall 44, rotates drive shaft 50.

A plurality of machines, if desired, may be utilized in a stacked array. That is, the machines may be stacked and connected to a common drive shaft. It should be evident that an array of machines provides more power and since the drive studs on each successive machine may be staggered relative to one another, it also provides a more uniform drive for the drive shaft.

From the above description, it should now be evident that a novel internal combustion machine has been invented which is efficient and smooth in operation. In can easily be made in a small size and is lightweight with few movable parts which can readily be assembled. The particular construction of the machine eliminates a need for seals of vanes utilized in previous rotary combustion machines, thus making the machine more durable. This durability reduces the undesirable expense to repair the machine and also substantially eliminates downtime on the machine. In addition, the machine, with its few moving parts and easy assembly may be'easily overhauled. Moreover, the drive shaft of the machine is driven by a simple carning arrangement eliminating the need for expensive or complicated gearing transmission. It should be obvious that the machines particular construction makes it economically feasible as well as practical to manufacture.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

w Iiow that th ejnventio nhas been described:

I A combustion machine comprising in combination ahousing'havi'ng an upstanding inner wall and an upstanding oiiter wall and an upstanding partition connecting said walls, a piston having an annular piston wall positioned intermediate to said upstanding housing walls and slidably engaging said ei t ts i 9st? boluses. e e ,ss i qs. wer

; merit and having an external and an internal diameter positioned such that the exterior surface of the piston rides on said outer wall of the housing and its interior suffice rides on the inner wall of the housing while said piston eccentrically oscillates, inlet means to transfer a compressible fuel mixture into the area between said piston wall and the outer wall of said housing, variable outer chambers formed between the outer housing wall and the piston wall and variable inner chambers formed between the inner housing wall and piston wall whereby the fuel mixture is received and compressed in the outer chambers and ignited and exhausted in the inner chambers, transfer means to transfer the co rnpresed fuel mixture from an outer compression chamber to an inner ignition chamber, ignition means to ignite said fuel in said igni-* tion chamber, exhaust outlet means for passing the exhaust gases from the machine, and drive means for changing the eccentric oscillating movement of the piston to rotary movement for rotating a drive shaft.

2. The combustion machine of claim 1 where both the inner wall and outer housing walls are cylindrical and the outer wall is concentric to the inner wall.

3. The combustion machine of claim 2 wherein said inlet means comprises a port in said outer wall of the housing and exhaust means comprises a port in the inner wall of said housing with an exhaust chimney communicating to the interior of said inner wall.

4. The combustion machine of claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a body with a machine cover detachably secured thereto and said machine cover threaded to said body.

5. The combustion machine of claim 4 wherein the drive means includes a drive shaft housing attached to said machine cover, said drive shaft rotatably received within said housing, and annular piston drive wall carried by said piston and an offset piston drive stud on the anterior end of said shaft and operatively camed to said annular piston drive wall.

6. The combustion machine of claim 5 wherein said drive means further includes an annular axle guide well formed at the center of said cover, a guide disc attached to the anterior end of said shaft, said drive stud attached to said guide disc,

and said disc sitting within said annular axle guide wall.

7. The combustion machine of claim 6 wherein said housing and cover when secured together define an annular cavity around the base of said housing.

8. The combustion machine of claim 7 wherein said piston wall is integral on one end with a cavity cover disc which is located within said annular cavity of the housing.

9. The combustion machine of claim 8 wherein said gas transfer means includes a port extending through the cover.

disc between the piston wall and the outer wall of said housing, a port extending through said cover disc within the interior of the inner wall of said housing, and a groove on the upper surface of said machine cover disposed such that at a particu-. lar point along the piston's eccentric oscillatory movement the ports are aligned with said grove to transfer a compressed fuel into the interior of said piston wall. 

